Front wheel static collector

[Jim Hansen]

The other day, I pried off one of my front wheel hubs just to see what it looked like inside. Obviously, a lawyer shouldn't be trusted with a screwdriver, but that's a different Oprah. Anyway, inside I found a broken part, which I later determined to be a front wheel static collector. What the heck does this thing do? Is is really of any use? Should I replace it or just forget it? Thanks, Jim Hansen.

[Joe L.]

Re: Front wheel static collector

Jim-----

The purpose of the static collector was radio interference suppression. However, during the years when they were installed, they were included on both radio and non-radio-equipped cars. I don't think that any were actually used after about 1968 and many pre-68 didn't have them, either. I think that they may have been principally found in C1s.

Personally, I don't think that they did very mucg good. If they had, I expect that GM would have kept them in use.

[Duke W.]

Re: Front wheel static collector

My '63 had them OEM, but they are long gone. Like Joe said, their function is dubious at best and they are not a judging item. One less thing to break in the future.

Duke

[Jim Hansen]

Thanks

Joe and Duke: Thanks again for all your wisdom. Jim.

[Jack H.]

Re: Front wheel static collector

They are called out through the mid-year era as part of the radio option (you should find them referenced in your AIM, radio section) AND they're defined in the Chevrolet Radio Service and Shop Manual books of the era. You'll find they were also installed on passenger cars (meaning you can find originals in scrap yards if you're a hearty searcher).

Typically, they were pulled out and discarded by non-GM repair mechanics during front wheel bearing re-pack service. They got in the way of doing the job quick (making $$$). You can buy true reproductions from a number of catalog houses, including Long Island Corvette.

Purpose was to give electrostatic charge build up from tire rotation a discharge path to ground to defeat sporadic 'poping-whining' noise heard through the radio. The Delco Remy Radio books and service bulletins also refer to the use of a conductive powder to apply to the inside of tires in cases where static collectors were properly installed and customers continued to complain of radio noise....

Noise was never really a problem in major metropolitan areas sporting beefy RF signal strength. This was primarily an issue in remote areas with marginal signal strength and almost exclusively an AM reception issue. Since those days the formulation of rubber used in tires has changed SIGNIFICANTLY (improved)....

When would you want to make sure you had these static collectors installed? Well, not very often (other than a sense of pride in authentic restoration) but here's a case....

Suppose you had your car all spiffed up and were attempting to achieve the NCRS Mark of Excellence Award. You've got virtually everything back to factory stock condition. Further, you're trying to achieve your Performance Verification Award and you've selected the NCRS National Convention at Sun Valley, Idaho in 1999 as the place.

The AM signal strength we experienced there as so LOW that early cars ('53-55) simply could NOT pull in/lock on station! So, if you were doing a PV in your '56-67, you coiuld have experienced that 'just right' radio reception sitution the static collectors were designed to thwart!